Patentable/Patents/US-9838760
US-9838760

Systems and methods for name-based segmented media acquisition and distribution framework on a network

PublishedDecember 5, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A media network platform is disclosed. The media network platform utilizes a computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor. Media data is retrieved from at least one data source. A plurality of media segments are created from the media data with each of the media segments being independently playable. A plurality of unique identifiers is assigned to each of the respective media segments. A request is received to transmit a media segment of the plurality of media segments for playback with the request including information about a unique identifier assigned to the media segment. The media segment is transmitted using the unique identifier. The media segment comprises a portion of a video derived from the media data and comprises any specific time interval of the video.

Patent Claims
22 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method of acquiring and distributing media data, comprising: utilizing a computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to perform operations including: accessing media data from at least one data source; creating a plurality of media segments from the media data with each of the plurality of media segments being independently playable, comprising: utilizing a name syntax for each of the plurality of media segments, comprising: syntactically naming a media segment of the plurality of media segments with a media segment name, the media segment name being unique to the media segment, the media segment name comprising metadata to encapsulate adaptive behavior of streaming and playback for the media segment, wherein the media segment name defines information about the media segment's relationship with respect to other media segments of the plurality of media segments; receiving a request to transmit the media segment of the plurality of media segments for playback with the request including information about the media segment name assigned to the media segment; transmitting the media segment by referencing the media segment name; and parsing the metadata of the media segment name to playback the media segment, wherein the media segment name defines a quality and a size associated with the media segment of the plurality of media segments.

Plain English Translation

A method for delivering streaming media involves dividing media (video, audio, or multimedia) into independently playable segments. Each segment is given a unique name that includes metadata about the segment, such as quality (resolution) and size. This name also defines how the segment relates to other segments in the stream, allowing for adaptive streaming. When a request for a segment is received, the segment is transmitted by referencing its name. The metadata in the name is parsed by the player to enable playback. No manifest file is needed, the name provides all segment information.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: wherein the media data comprises video, audio, or multimedia data; and wherein the data source comprises at least one of a sensor or data file.

Plain English Translation

The media data being streamed is video, audio, or multimedia. The source of this data can be a sensor (like a camera) or a data file stored on a computer. The method, described previously involving uniquely named, independently playable segments, applies regardless of the media type or source.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of media segments comprises a duration in a range of 0-10seconds.

Plain English Translation

The segments created in this media streaming method (with uniquely named, independently playable segments) each have a duration between 0 and 10 seconds. This short segment length allows for quick adaptation to changing network conditions.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the media segment comprises a portion of an audio recording or a video and is associated with a specific time interval.

Plain English Translation

The media segment (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) is a portion of an audio or video recording and is associated with a specific time interval within the overall recording. This allows the media player to request and play specific sections of the media.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a media player; transmitting the plurality of media segments to the media player; and initiating playback of any of the plurality of media segments by the media player using a unique media segment name associated with the any of the plurality of media segments and without an initialization segment nor manifest file.

Plain English Translation

A media player receives the media segments (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) and can begin playback of any segment immediately, using its unique name. This playback is done without needing a manifest file or initialization segment, as all necessary information is encoded within the segment names themselves.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the media player retrieves, buffers, selects, and schedules media transmission.

Plain English Translation

This media player, which plays segments based on their unique name (as described previously), also handles retrieving, buffering, selecting and scheduling the transmission of media segments. This allows the media player to adjust its playback based on network conditions and user preferences.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: capturing the media data as the plurality of media segments for storage in a storage device in communication with the computing device, the computing device being remote from the media player; and wherein the media player solely utilizes a plurality of unique media segment names associated with respective ones of the plurality of media segments to parse each of the plurality of media segments and to playback individual media segments of the plurality of media segments.

Plain English Translation

Media data is captured as segments and stored remotely (not directly on the media player). The remote media server segments the media into uniquely named, independently playable segments. The media player only needs the segment names to request, parse, and play back individual segments. The segment names provide all the information needed for playback, without needing a manifest file or initialization segment.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing the name syntax and the plurality of media segments being independently playable to enable media object distribution across networks including cross-network data transfers between traditional Internet Protocol based networks and non-Internet Protocol networks.

Plain English Translation

The method of using uniquely named, independently playable media segments is used to facilitate media distribution across different types of networks, including transferring data between traditional internet protocol (IP) based networks and non-IP networks. The self-contained nature of segments enables smooth transitions between network types.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media segments is created without having to specially format the media data to reduce server node power consumption.

Plain English Translation

The media segment creation process (in the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) does not require special formatting of the media data, reducing the processing load and power consumption on the server. This is achieved by embedding all necessary information into the segment name itself.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media segment is decodable using a decoder engine native to a browser or any multimedia rendering canvas requesting the media segment.

Plain English Translation

Each media segment (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) can be decoded using a standard decoder engine that is built into a web browser or any multimedia rendering canvas requesting the media segment. This eliminates the need for specialized or proprietary codecs.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. A method of acquiring and distributing media data, comprising: accessing digital media associated with a plurality of media segments, wherein each of the plurality of media segments covers a specified time interval and comprises an independently playable media object; and applying a media segment naming syntax to the plurality of media segments, comprising: syntactically naming a media segment of the plurality of media segments with a segment name, the segment name being unique to the media segment and defining metadata sufficient to enable playback of the media segment utilizing the segment name, wherein the segment name defines a quality and a size of the media segment, and wherein the media segment of the plurality of media segments is accessible for playback by parsing the metadata of the segment name.

Plain English Translation

A method for streaming media involves dividing digital media into independently playable segments, each covering a specific time interval. Each segment is assigned a unique name containing metadata that is sufficient for the media player to play the segment without additional information. This metadata includes the quality and size of the segment. The media segment is accessible for playback just by parsing this segment name. No manifest file or initialization segment is needed.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the segment name defines an index of the media segment with respect to the plurality of media segments.

Plain English Translation

The segment name (as described in the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) also includes an index number that indicates the segment's position in the overall sequence of segments. This allows the media player to easily determine the correct order of playback.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the media segment naming syntax is used to assign a unique file name to each of the plurality of media segments.

Plain English Translation

The media segment naming syntax (as described in the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) is used to assign a unique file name to each media segment.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of media segments is assigned a time-stamp.

Plain English Translation

Each media segment (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) is assigned a timestamp.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of media segments is uniquely monotonically indexed.

Plain English Translation

Each media segment (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) is assigned a unique, monotonically increasing index number.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising initiating playback of the plurality of media segments without a manifest file or initialization segment by virtue of the media segment naming syntax.

Plain English Translation

Playback of the segments (created with the method of uniquely named, independently playable segments) can start immediately without needing a manifest file or initialization segment. The media segment naming syntax contains all necessary information for playback.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. A system for acquiring and distributing media data comprising: a data source, the data source associated with a media segment, the media segment comprising a segment name defined by a media segment naming syntax; and a media player configured for accessing the media segment from the data source by referencing the segment name associated with the media segment, wherein the segment name is unique to the media segment and includes metadata defining a quality and size of the media segment, and wherein the metadata of the segment name associated with the media segment includes sufficient information for access and playback of the media segment by the media player.

Plain English Translation

A media system includes a data source that contains a media segment. Each media segment has a segment name, defined by a naming syntax, which is unique. A media player accesses the media segment by referencing this name. The name includes metadata, such as quality and size. The media player uses the metadata to access and play the segment. This eliminates the need for manifest files, as the segment name includes all necessary information.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising: wherein the data source comprises a sensor for capturing one or more media segments; and wherein the sensor communicates with the media player remotely via a network.

Plain English Translation

The data source, from which the media player retrieves segments by their unique names (as described previously), can be a sensor capturing media. The sensor communicates with the media player over a network.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising: a mobile device configured to execute the media player; and a cloud repository, wherein the one or more media segments comprise data sets and services of the cloud repository and accessible by the mobile device.

Plain English Translation

The media player (that retrieves segments by unique name) runs on a mobile device. The segments are stored in a cloud repository and accessible to the mobile device. The media segments contain data sets and services from the cloud repository.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more media segments is immediately playable as independent multimedia objects upon retrieval by the media player.

Plain English Translation

Each segment (that is retrieved by unique name) can be immediately played as an independent multimedia object as soon as it is retrieved by the media player. This is because its name contains all the necessary metadata to enable playback without requiring a manifest file or additional data.

Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the media player is configured to select a different next media segment depending on a network environment associated with the media player and prior experience with previous fetches of media segments.

Plain English Translation

The media player (that retrieves segments by unique name) can select a different next media segment depending on the current network environment and the experience with previous segment requests. This enables adaptive streaming.

Claim 22

Original Legal Text

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the media player is further configured to: select the different next media segment as a lower quality media segment based upon deteriorating bandwidth; select the different next media segment from a different source based on location of a new source and latency of previous fetches; and select the different next media segment from local storage or a completely different network type depending on dynamically changing security or accessibility issues with previous media segment selections or a next selection.

Plain English Translation

The media player can select a lower quality segment if network bandwidth is poor. It can switch to a segment from a different source (based on location and latency). Also, it can switch to local storage or a different network type if security or accessibility issues arise. The media player (using unique segment names) makes these selections for each segment in the stream.

Classification Codes (CPC)

Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

December 7, 2015

Publication Date

December 5, 2017

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